I found something interesting while googling. “Natural dyes”. Across some pages, recent days this has gained attention.
WHAT IS NATURAL DYES?
These are the colorants derived from plants, animals and minerals without the use of synthetic dyes. They are considered as sustainable fashion, because they are natural (i.e. biodegradable).
Most natural dyes comes from plant based source.
Natural dyes can be used with or without mordant. Mordant is a fixing agent to make the dye to bind it with fabric.
Examples of natural dyes:
Plant based – Indigo blue, madder red, chamomile leaves, pomegranate, onion skins, orange peels, turmeric, black walnut etc.
Animal dyes – Cochineal (derived from the dried bodies of scaled insects), Sephia from cuttlefish or octopuses, Tyrian purple (derived from snails).
Mineral dyes – Iron, Ocyre, Prussian blue, Manganese bistre etc.
PROS AND CONS:
PROS: Free form toxic chemicals that are carcinogenic, excellent antimicrobial properties, offer UV protection up to 50+ as per the trials and ideal for sensitive skin. The waste from these dyes can be used for agricultural purpose also.
CONS: Expensive, needs more raw material and more lab our work.
CONCLUSION:
Natural dyes un-doubtfuly has many advantages such as medicinal and environmental friendly. However it is very difficult to make them commercially viable.
Add your reflections on this sight!
MBH/PS